July 11, 2018
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Family Research Council applauded the House Appropriations Committee for approving the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act (HR 1881), as an amendment to the Labor, Health and Human Services appropriations bill. Rep. Robert Aderholt's (R-Ala.) amendment was approved by a vote of 29-23. Members speaking in support of the bill included U.S. Reps.Tom Cole (R-Okla.), Evan Jenkins (R-W. Va.), Martha Roby (R-Ala.), Andy Harris (R-Md.), John Carter (R-Texas), Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) and Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.).
The Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act would ensure the federal government and state governments receiving federal funding for certain child welfare programs do not discriminate against faith-based adoption and foster care providers in licensing, funding, or contracting.
Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released the following statement:
"This is good news for children, birth moms, and adoptive families, who want the opportunity to work with an agency that shares their values and core beliefs --- without fear of government discrimination. Mothers who are considering adoption should have the right to choose what agencies they want to work with to support them.
"It's sad that this amendment is necessary but faith-based adoption and foster care providers are facing increasing discrimination by state and local governments. The federal government must not do the same, and should not fund states who engage in this discriminatory action. Congress should make sure that the federal government and state governments do not punish or discriminate against adoption and foster care providers simply because they are faith-based.
"Faith-based child welfare service providers have played a major role in serving our nation's orphaned and needy children since America's founding. Today, faith-based child welfare service providers provide invaluable support to overextended, financially-strapped social service agencies. They recruit adoptive and foster parents, provide ongoing support for newly-formed families, focus on at-risk and special needs children, and create innovative approaches to building community support for adoption and foster care.
"I thank Reps. Robert Adherholt (R-Ala.) and Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) for their hard work on behalf of the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act," concluded Perkins.
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